Articles

Voters Haven't Decided Yet

October 08, 2008

Tuesday night's presidential debate was good entertainment. Both candidates were animated and loose throughout a wide-ranging discussion. Sen. Barack Obama did well in Sen. John McCain's favorite format. Mr. McCain was more focused and sharp than in the first debate, though the cameras above him made his balding pate more prominent.

Tom Brokaw was often a distraction: Did he really need over a hundred words -- including the name "Sherard Cowper-Coles" -- to ask about Afghanistan?

Mr. McCain's advocates were cheered by him advancing the theme that Mr. Obama lacks a record of accomplishment or bipartisanship in the Senate. Mr. McCain also described how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac constituted "the match that started this forest fire" that's engulfed our economy, and nailed Mr. Obama and Democrats for being AWOL on GSE reform.

Mr. McCain was most effective on taxes and spending. He argued now is not the time to raise taxes and hit Mr. Obama's proposal to hike small business taxes: three out of four filers in the top 5% report small-business income. Mr. McCain called for a spending freeze and attacked earmarks, including Mr. Obama's $3 million for a Chicago planetarium's "overhead projector." Mr. Obama weakly replied earmarks were only $18 billion.

Advocates of Mr. Obama, on the other hand, saw him scoring points on style and connecting with questioners. He patiently explained to one how the Wall Street rescue package would help him and his neighbors on Main Street. He had the night's emotional high point when he talked about his dying mother fighting her insurer over whether her cancer was a pre-existing condition. He called for dramatic change and tied Mr. McCain to the Bush administration, though not too often to be obnoxious.

 FULL ARTICLE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122350996821817371.html

Related Article

803a47b6c3ab41630f9d5d9310207f87
June 26, 2025 |
Article
Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrated the U.S. military’s awesome power and dealt Iran’s nuclear ambitions a severe setback. ...
Bb5ddd889895013f92d5c5274d246570
June 19, 2025 |
Article
Any doubts as to where President Trump stood on Iran’s acquiring nuclear weapons should have been erased at 7:19 a.m. Central Time Tuesday.   ...
496ba9a6cac5c06f8a8a224bc1062e52
June 12, 2025 |
Article
What the heck is going on? Have some of America’s leaders gone completely bonkers?    ...
705caf4d300943cb43cc2110c2eaa9fe
June 05, 2025 |
Article
Most Americans aren’t thinking about next year’s midterm election. But leaders, lawmakers and candidates in both parties are—and for good reason.   ...
Button karlsbooks
Button readinglist
Button nextapperance